Load retaining or releasing means for vehicles.



No. 745,289. l 4 v PATENTED NOV. 24,1903. D. MULAUGHLIN.

LOAD RETAINING 0R RELEASING MEANS POR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED TU LY 18, 1903. N0 MODEL.

M5655... i haar. v

v I .lorgqy UNITED STATES Patented November 24, 1903,

PATENT OEEICE.

DAVID MCLAUGHLIN, OF' DULUTII, MINNESOTA.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 745,289, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed July 18, 1903. Serial No. 166,136. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, DAVID MOLAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Load Retaining or Releasing Means for Vehicles; and I- do h ereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as vwill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to position-governing means for load-retaining stakes, and has for its object the provision of stake-retaining means which may be easily released by an operator in a position of safety.

With this and other objects inview it consists, in combination with a suitable load-supporting structure, of a load-retaining stake pivoted thereto, a bracket secured to said structure, means supported by said bracket for securing one end of a stake-controlling chain, a stake-controlling chain, and operating means for governing said securing means.

It also comprises certain other constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a logging-car of the Russell type, showing my invention mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a chain-anchoring bracket and means supportedthereby forming part of my said invention. \Fig. 3 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of said supporting structure and of portions of said invention mounted thereon.

In the drawings, 1 is a transverse bolster forming part ofa logging-car, upon the side of which bolster, near the end thereof, is pivoted a stake 2, to which stake intermediateV of its ends is secured an anchor-chain 3. To the same side of said bolster in rear of said stake is secured a bracket 4, having a downwardly directed tooth 5 formed thereon. Pivotally secured near its upper end to an elbow 6, forming part of said bracket, is a lever '7, provided above its pivotal point with an upwardly-directed tooth 8, adapted in cooperation with said tooth 5 to engage said auchor-chain in rear of said stake. Said lever is adapted to swing in the same plane with said stake and is provided at its lower end with a foot directed forwardly and rearwardly in said plane, the rearward -end of which foot is preferably provided with a counterbalance-weight 9, and the forward end of 'which foot is adapted in operative positionl to engage a lip 1l, formed upon a collar 12, which collar is secured in any suitable manner to a shaft v13, projected through said bracket at right angles to the plane within which said lever swings. A button 14 is pivoted to the face of said tooth 5 and is adapted in operative position to extend downwardly across the space between the tooth 5 and the tooth 8 to prevent said chain from slipping laterally out of engagement with said teeth. The shaft 13 preferably' extends to the end of said car and is provided at such place with an operating-handle 15. Said shaft may be secured against revolution by' any suitable means, as by a chain 16, adapted at one end to removably engage said handle and at the opposite end secured to the frame of said car.V

.18, extending longitudinally of said bolster,

whereby the movement of said dog is limited. f I am aware that load retaining and releasing means similar in some respects to my said -invention has heretofore been used, and notably the means illustrated and described in my application, tiled on the 2d day of December, 1903, Serial No'. 133,589, for patent for load retaining and releasing means for vehicles; but I have found that such previous means do not suiiciently provide for the stretching of the stake-retaining chain, and

when such stretching occurs the chain has to IOO the chain a quarter-turn and inserting one or l a lever pivoted to said bracket and provided 3o another of the links between said teeth.

Having now described my invention, Whatl claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. In load retaining and releasing means, the combination with aload-supporting structure provided with a load-retaining stake piv otally secured thereto and a chain secured at one end to said stake, of a bracket secured to said structure in rear of said stake and provided With a downwardly directed tooth formed thereon, a lever pivotally secured to said bracket and adapted to swingin the same plane as said stake and provided above its pivotal point with an upwardly-directed tooth registering with the tooth formed on said bracket and adapted in coperation with the first said tooth to grip said chain, and pro vided below its pivotal point with a foot terminating at one end in a hook, means for engaging said hook to secure said lever in operating position, and means for controlling said engaging means, substantially as described.

2. In means for the purposes described, the combination with a load-supporting structure of a chain or cable engaging anchorage cornprising a bracket secured to said structure provided with a downwardly-directed tooth,

above its pivotal point with an upwardly-directed tooth adapted in cooperation with said downwardly-directed tooth to grip a chain or cable, said lever being provided below its piv-` otal point with a foot having a hook formed upon one end, means for engaging said hook to secure said lever in operative position, and means for controlling said engaging means, substantially as described.

3. In means for the purpose described, the combination with a load-supporting structure of a chain or cable engaging anchorage comprising a bracket secured to said structure and provided with a downwardly-directed tooth, a lever pivoted to said bracket and provided above its pivotal point With` an upwardly-directed tooth adapted in coperation with said downwardly-directed tooth to grip a chain or cable, and means for securing said lever in operative position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of' two witnesses.

DAVID MCLAUGHLIN.

Witnesses:

JAMES T. WATSON, A. JOHNSON. 

